In this episode he shared a story about core values. Here’s an activity you can do with your players today:

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Hand every player a 3×5 notecard. Ask them to write down 2 or 3 things that your team is known for. When outsiders describe your program, what do they say about you? Or, said another way, what are your team’s core values.

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This is a fascinating activity, because although your team’s core values may be crystal clear to you, and maybe even your coaching staff, are they crystal clear to your players? Remember what George Bernard Shaw said:

‘The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.’

Don’t beat yourself up about the results of this activity. You will probably get a list of 30 to 50 or more ideas. Use this as a launching point for a discussion about who you are.

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Then start the process of incorporating these core values into everything you do:

Tie them into your coaching points

Incorporate them into your goals for each game

Make your most important season-ending awards based on these criteria

Communicate them, communicate them, then communicate them some more

If you want to hear more about Brian Cain’s methods of helping define the core values of a team, one of the recent WYC guests Randy Jackson shared some great stories: winningyouthcoaching.com/wyc-097/

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Next week we’ll dive into one of my new favorite books, Crucial Conversations.